Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers Prediction, 1/16/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Butler Bulldogs vs Xavier Musketeers

Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Location: Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Butler (+6)

The Xavier Musketeers (8-8) will try to beat the Butler Bulldogs (11-6) at Cintas Center on Tuesday. Xavier opens this contest as 6-point favorites from oddsmakers. The total comes in at 151.5.

The Butler Bulldogs stepped onto the hardwood against Seton Hall and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 78-72 in their last contest. Butler finished the game with a 40.7% FG percentage (24 of 59) and made 9 out of their 23 shots from downtown. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Bulldogs buried 15 of their 16 shots for a rate of 93.8%. In regard to rebounding, they earned 22 with 5 of them being of the offensive variety. They also recorded 15 assists for this contest while forcing the other team into 10 turnovers and earning 7 steals. In reference to defense, Butler allowed their opponent to shoot 50.8% from the floor on 30 out of 59 shooting. Seton Hall earned 12 dimes and had 5 steals for the game. In addition, Seton Hall pulled down 31 rebounds (9 offensive, 22 defensive), but wasn't able to record a block. Seton Hall walked away from this one shooting 90.9% when shooting free throws by burying 10 of 11 attempts. They knocked down 8 of 22 attempts from beyond the perimeter. When discussing fouls, the Bulldogs finished with 15 while Seton Hall finished the game with 14 fouls.

Posh Alexander is one guy who was important for the game. He finished the game at 55.6% from the floor and also distributed 4 assists. He was on the hardwood for 33 minutes played and totaled 1 board. He racked up 17 points on 5 of 9 shooting.

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Butler enters this contest with a win-loss record of 11-6 so far this year. They average 80.8 points per game (48th in Division 1) while hitting 46.4% from the floor. The Bulldogs are shooting 35.9% on 3-point shots (141 of 393) and 79.1% from the free throw line. As a unit, Butler is collecting 36.8 rebounds per game and has totaled 259 dimes so far this year, which has them ranked 71st in the nation in terms of passing the ball. They turn it over 11.0 times per contest and as a group they commit 13.6 fouls per contest.

On defense, the Bulldogs are forcing 12.2 turnovers per game while drawing 16.5 personal fouls. They currently rank 223rd in college basketball in giving up assists to the opposition with 220 surrendered this year. The Bulldogs defense is giving up a field goal percentage of 42.5% (467 of 1,099) and they surrender 36.5 boards per game as a team. They concede 30.7% from beyond the arc and they are 218th in D-1 in points per game allowed (72.6).

When they last stepped on the court, the Xavier Musketeers walked away with a victory by a final of 85-65 when they faced Providence. When talking about how they cleaned up the glass, Xavier allowed Providence to get 27 in all (6 on the offensive glass). They wrapped up this game 26.7% from downtown via 8 out of 30 and ended up going 15 out of 22 at the free throw line (68.2%). The Musketeers permitted Providence to bury 21 of their 53 tries from the floor which left them shooting 39.6% in this matchup. Overall, the Musketeers finished shooting 32 out of 63 from the floor which gave them a percentage of 50.8%. With respect to shooting from 3-point land, Xavier buried 12 of 24 attempts (50.0%). They were able to knock down 9 of them for a clip of 75.0%. Providence committed 13 fouls in the matchup which took the Musketeers to the free throw line for a total of 12 tries. They turned it over 8 times, while getting 6 steals for the game. The Musketeers were able to snag 26 defensive boards and 8 offensive rebounds totaling 34 for this contest.

Trey Green ended up being a factor for the Musketeers in the game. He recorded 23 points in his 23 minutes on the hardwood, but wasn't able to tally an assist. He buried 9 out of 14 in the matchup giving him a rate of 64.3%, and had 6 rebounds.

Xavier has a win-loss record of 8-8 on the season. As an offense, the Musketeers are shooting 43.9% from the floor, which has them ranked 227th in college basketball. Xavier has earned 1,204 points so far this season (75.3 per game) and they pull down 40.3 rebounds per game. Their rate of dishing out assists is at 16.8 times per contest (28th in college basketball) and they are turning it over 12.2 times per contest. The Musketeers are committing 17.5 personal fouls per contest while shooting 72.6% from the charity stripe.

The Xavier defense allows 30.5% on 3-point attempts (106 of 348) and opponents are knocking down 67.7% of their free throw attempts. They have allowed 15.2 dimes and 36.5 boards on a nightly basis, which has them ranked 329th and 264th in the country. The Musketeers on the defensive side of the court are 139th in the nation in PPG given up with 69.7. They are able to force 12.0 TO's every game and have let teams shoot 40.5% from the floor (56th in D-1).

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Xavier (-6)

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